I had grand plans of installing my headers and intake manifold on my engine before it went into the truck. I ran into an issue with the header I was sent being welded incorrectly so it would run into my intake. I called the company, they sent me one that had been made correctly. However in the mean time I went ahead and installed the engine into my XJ. The headers of course went on quite easily. The problem I run into now is installing the intake manifold. I have the air box out, power steering pump out, etc... I have gotten them all in except for the one in the bottom row in the center. Anyone have any secrets? It took me nearly 3 hours to get the one next to it installed. Apparently you need to be a contortionist and have midget carney hands.

 

Trying using a gear wrench.

 

Gear wrench is a must. I actually found re-installing the bolts to be easier with the header.

 

I used a 3/8 drive impact wobble and a 6" extension. The torque spec is 24ftlbs.

 

When I get home from work, that is my mission. I will not sleep until that bolt is installed. There has to be an easy way to do it, I just havent figured it out yet. Its holding up the rest of my re-assembly.

 

X2 works great.

 

there is no easy way, unless you're a midget carni contortioist. Wobbler socket, flex-head gear wrench....whatever it takes. If the wobbler socket is wobbling too much, put on O-ring on it or jsut some duct/electrical tape. I'll use my left arm coming from the front where the PS pump was to hold/guide the socket, right arm mid engine turning the wrench. Good luck, its always "fun"

 

I like a short 9/16 socket on a 8"inch extension. Normaly there is enough rust on the bolt head to wedge it into the socket and it goes right into th head. I use this same set up for all the lower bolts.

 

This is f'ing impossible. My wobble socket can't get the right angle. I can't reach up in there. How important is this on bolt. I'm going crazy here.

 

If you don't want it to leak......important! I put them in from the top, are you trying from under the jeep? I also leave all the other bolts loose so I can move the manifold around and get all the bolts lined up and in most of the way before I tighten them all up.


Put everything down, go have a cold beer....come back to it later.

 

It's the second bolt from the back on the bottom. I am trying from the top. It's pretty tough. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I definitely want it in there. I'm just going crazy. A beer is a great idea.

 

Ya those are tough to reach I remember I had to do some from underneath some from the top using a combination of extension lengths. The major help was a wobble extension and u joint style 9/16 socket.

 

If I ever meet a jeep engineer I'm punching them straight in the face for such a stupid design. I'm goin on hour 6. 2 days 3 hours each. That's ridiculous for one bolt.

 

Depending on which header you have, sockets would not work for some header (APN).
Like i mentioned, use a gear wrench. You should be able to access it from under the Jeep.

GL.

 

I have the rugged ridge polished stainless headers. I go shopping for a gear wrench in the morning. I am guessing that is a ratcheting combination wrench? For now I go to bed a defeated man.